LOS ALCÁZARES - In the Spanish enclave known for training young sporting talents, Spain's own national anthem sounded three times and Forza Italia once on the evening of the European billiards finals. The silver trophies in three-cushion were for Bruno Martinez (17) in the under-17 class, who celebrated his European championship in front of the podium like a bullfighter, and to Daniel Sainz-Pardo (20), who became European under-21 champion. The much vaunted Spanish billiards school, headed by José Carrasco, cheered again for two new and young champions in an already rich history. The tribute afterwards was also to the Spanish host in Los Alcázares and the European organization.
The Spanish centre, Centro Deportivo, where many young athletes are trained in many disciplines and where, among others, Ivan Mayor and Carlos Anguita achieved international successes in three-cushion, was again hailed as one of the billiards world's best training centres. 17-year-old Bruno Martinez attended training there two years ago, 20-year-old Daniel Sainz-Pardo does not live there but attends trainings in the centre. Bruno Martinez won the under-17 final against Mio Svensson 30-25 in 30 innings. Daniel Sainz-Pardo beat Turkey's Mustafa Oguz Ceylan in the under 21 by 35-26 in 45/44 innings. Bruno Martinez dominated from the start, beating 14-year-old Dutchman Joeri Wilkowski 25-8 in 20 (1,250) and Frenchman Charles Legendre 30-14 in 25 (1,200), among others, the two best games of the tournament. Daniel Sainz-Pardo in the under 21 played one better game against his compatriot Marcos Morales: 35-21 in 26, 1.346 average. But in the final, for example, his win against Mustafa Ceylan 35-26 in 45 innings with 0.777 average was in quality less than Bruno Martinez, who averaged exactly 1 in the final against Mio Svensson (30-25 in 30).
Bruno Martinez from Calasparra, some 100 kilometres from the sports centre in Los Alcazares, started his billiard career at age 9 on the advice of his father Jose Antonio, who owns a restaurant in his hometown. Bruno moved to Jose Carrasco's Spanish school two years ago. ‘’We get our training here with a lot of talents,‘’ he said after winning the European title. Bruno Martinez is living there with twice two hours at school and two to four hours of billiards training every day.
Apart from many other sports, such as triathlon, surfing, rowing, martial arts, table tennis and beach football, in the discipline of billiards, five players are interns, almost all the talents who competed in the European Championships are following Jose Carrasco's training sessions. The national sports training is supported by the Ministry of Sport and Education with substantial grants and support.
In the under-17, the Spaniards had Bruno Martinez as winner and a girl, Alba Wallerup with a Danish father in tenth position. Her brother Mateo Wallerup came 12th. Swede Mio Svensson came a nice second, three Turks, Remzi Akca, Muhammet Baldir and Gokalp Cebeoglu finished among the top six.
Daniel Sainz-Pardo won the under 21, Marcos Morales, also from the Spanish school, finished fifth. Turkey's Mustafa Oguz Ceylan, a university student who lives and is looked after by renowned Turkish Gülsen Degener, finished second in the final ahead of Portuguese Luis Pinto and Dane Daniel Kristiansen.
All the medal winners at the podium in three cushion, biatlon and 5-pins
Daniel Sainz Pardo, the under 21 winner
The under 21 final
Bruno Martinez
The European Under-21 championship rankings:
- Daniel Sainz Pardo (Spain) 12-0,969-8
- Mustafa Oguz Ceylan (Turkey) 8-0.919-6
- Luis Pinto (Portugal) 6-1.085-9
- Daniel Kristiansen (Denmark) 8-0.832-6
- Marcos Morales (Spain) 6-0.929-6
- Amir Ibraimov (Germany) 6-1.037-6
- Joris van ‘t Zelfden (Netherlands) 4-0.910-7
- Toon Bollansee (Belgium) 4-0.722-7
- Seymen Ozbas (Turkey) 2-1.164-8
- Tangui Duriez (France) 4-1,120-
European under 17:
- Bruno Martinez (Spain) 12-1,031-7
- Mio Svensson (Sweden) 10-0.751-5
- Remzi Akca (Turkey) 8-0.667-4
- Muhammet Baldir (Turkey) 8-0.691-5
- Gokalp Cebeoglu (Turkey) 4-0.631-5
- Noa Thiaudiere (France) 4-0.601-7
- Charles Legendre (France) 3-0.468-4
- Joeri Wilkowski (Netherlands) 4-0.451-3
- Noah David (France) 2-0.467-3
- Alba Wallerup (Spain) 2-0.410-7